Chemical Catch-22

Published: February 6, 2002

The United States does not ban chemicals without proof of harm or risk. The Toxic Substances Control Act, which governs the use of industrial chemicals like polybrominated diphenyl ether, commonly known as PBDE, presents a Catch-22. The Environmental Protection Agency cannot act without evidence of harm, but it also cannot require the manufacturer to produce evidence without already having the evidence in hand. Under current regulation, we may not understand the risks many chemicals pose until it's too late.

We have alternatives to PBDE's and we should use them, lest we continue to expose our most vulnerable populations, nursing women and their children, to the unknown dangers of chemicals that are rapidly accumulating in their bodies.

SUSAN LEE

San Francisco, Jan. 31, 2002

The writer is an environmental health associate, California Public Interest Research Group.